After a week that saw Maurizio Sarri questioned for his preference to deploy N'Golo Kante in a more advanced role, Chelsea fans feel that their manager has been vindicated by the Frenchman's role in their opening goal against Fulham.

Jean Michael Seri was caught in possession high up the field by the World Cup-winner who drove forward after snatching the ball to play through Pedro to score.

It was exactly the sort of moment that his head coach wants to see from a player in the mould of the Frenchman. At Napoli, Sarri used Allan in a box-to-box role between the deeper-lying Jorginho and an attacking midfielder, Marek Hamsik.

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Last weekend, Chelsea were overrun by Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, and the choice to play Kante further forward was picked out as a fatal flaw in the system that the Blues have tried to play this season.

N'Golo Kante beats Jean Michael Seri to the ball to set up Pedro to score. (Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

Fulham have been disappointing in the Premier League so far this campaign, and cannot be compared with a top four contender such as Spurs. However, the way that Sarri's controversial midfield pick performed against the Whites showed why the plan may be worth sticking with.

This isn't the first time that Kante has been challenged to show he has more facets to his game. Under Antonio Conte, the Frenchman was encouraged to do more in possession, rather than simply focusing on winning the ball.